After a flood of opposition emails and phone calls, two Little Rock board of directors on Tuesday recommended axing a proposed project on Hinson Road that would reduce lanes and place a traffic light at the Pebble Beach Drive intersection.
The city's Public Works Department has proposed spending $500,000 to replace a four-way stop with a traffic light and reduce the four-lane Hinson Road to two travel lanes, a turning lane and a bike lane. It said the changes will mitigate traffic and speeding in the area -- something residents requested three years ago when the city sought input on how to spend sales tax revenue earmarked for road projects.
"Three years ago we passed an ordinance dealing with all seven wards' infrastructure projects. ... In the terms of traffic control on Hinson and intersection improvements, it does appear while it was requested at that time, it may not be requested now," Ward 4 Director Brad Cazort said Tuesday.
He joined Gene Fortson, city director at-large, in requesting an ordinance be put on the board's agenda for a vote at its Sept. 15 meeting that would stop the project and direct staff members to recommend other ways to use the funds. The money is split between Wards 4 and 5 because Hinson Road is the border of the two zones.
Ward 5 Director and Vice Mayor Lance Hines wants to move forward with the project, however.
"There is part of my constituency out there that supports this project. It was requested by them. We got a very vocal group [in opposition now.] I'll tell you I had a lot of folks afraid to come out and support this. They called me in private ... They are in support of this, but afraid of the angry mob that has come out to oppose this. We've got a significant speeding and safety issue in this residential area," Hines said.
City Director at-large Joan Adcock requested that the topic be placed on next week's agenda for a discussion among the city staff and board members only. Residents won't be allowed to address the board on the topic during that time, but they can sign up for public comments about the project at the Sept. 15 meeting when a vote is scheduled.
Adcock asked for the background on how the project came about, how many residents requested it and what residents are saying about the project now.
The discussion will follow the board's 6 p.m. agenda meeting next Tuesday in the second-floor board room at City Hall, 500 W. Markham.
Metro on 08/26/2015